Pentax K1000 w/ Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4

[Khunyapan]

I was using this combo for some time


Here are some pics taken with it:

Good stuff! I had to look up that camera, pretty neat!

 

[Khunyapan]

Thanks all for the responses on the K1000. I can definitely see a different side now, if anything this has made me want to get my Spotmatic repaired fully to take out. It definitely feels more smooth and well put together. I did just get an M6 TTL so all my SLR's are taking a break on the shelf, but soon..

 

[Pioneer]

Congrats on the M6. Certainly a smoother and quieter camera than the K1000.

 

[Khunyapan]

Congrats on the M6. Certainly a smoother and quieter camera than the K1000.

Very true, haha! I will still always love the K1000 even with it's clunky feeling and loud as hell shutter.

 

[Pioneer]

Very true, haha! I will still always love the K1000 even with it's clunky feeling and loud as hell shutter.

I know exactly how you feel. I have used mine since 1984 and it has never failed me.

Over the past few years I have pulled together a small collection of very nice cameras, and somehow I manage to put a few rolls through each one of them every year. You would think that with all this great gear that the K1000 would be forgotten but it is usually somewhere close. It always ends up having 30 to 40 rolls of film put through it each year.

 

[Khunyapan]

I know exactly how you feel. I have used mine since 1984 and it has never failed me.

Over the past few years I have pulled together a small collection of very nice cameras, and somehow I manage to put a few rolls through each one of them every year. You would think that with all this great gear that the K1000 would be forgotten but it is usually somewhere close. It always ends up having 30 to 40 rolls of film put through it each year.

Yeah, there is definitely something about it that is special. Definitely my most used camera to date, and it has never missed a beat.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

FWIW, my response to this thread was to order a Wein cell for the Spotmatic and put a cassette in it. I got next day delivery for the cell and my first comment once I'd read the manual again, was about the nice M2 feel to the film winder. That lever is a neat piece of plated brass, I think; I just wish I could get one on the M2...

Regards, David

 

[Pioneer]

Hi,

FWIW, my response to this thread was to order a Wein cell for the Spotmatic and put a cassette in it. I got next day delivery for the cell and my first comment once I'd read the manual again, was about the nice M2 feel to the film winder. That lever is a neat piece of plated brass, I think; I just wish I could get one on the M2...

Regards, David

Just go buy an SV David. Then you get the same wonderful smooth operation without bothering with the battery. Course the Spottie will also work.

I also find that the early Pentax film advance mechanisms were very, very smooth to operate. Likewise the early Minolta SR and SRT cameras. Their shutter actions were also incredibly smooth. A bit loud sometimes but if the mirror bumpers are in good condition even that is not bad.

I recently replaced the seals and mirror bumpers on my Honeywell Pentax H1a (similar to the SV) and set a glass of water next to it when it was mounted on my tripod with the Majestic gear head. The water barely rippled when I fired the shutter.

I am afraid to try that with my Nikon F for fear of knocking the glass right off the tripod! 😀

Those old mechanical cameras were very well designed and built.

 

[GarageBoy]

The K1000 is nice, but the KM/KX can be had for about the same price now and are nicer

The Nikon F- for the amount of vibration it puts out has a pretty fancy shutter brake system

 

[Pioneer]

The K1000 is nice, but the KM/KX can be had for about the same price now and are nicer

The Nikon F- for the amount of vibration it puts out has a pretty fancy shutter brake system

Actually I was just poking some fun at the Nikon boys. My own F is very smooth in operation. Much as I hate to admit it, it is actually quite an amazing camera.

Ok, that is my confession for the month. No more until Christmas time.

EDIT - You are right about the KM and KX. However, as overpriced as the K1000 sometimes seems to be I doubt you can pick up a decent KX for less than a K1000. Maybe a KM but even those are getting pricier.

 

[littleearth]

Just go buy an SV David. Then you get the same wonderful smooth operation without bothering with the battery. Course the Spottie will also work.

I also find that the early Pentax film advance mechanisms were very, very smooth to operate. Likewise the early Minolta SR and SRT cameras. Their shutter actions were also incredibly smooth. A bit loud sometimes but if the mirror bumpers are in good condition even that is not bad.

I recently replaced the seals and mirror bumpers on my Honeywell Pentax H1a (similar to the SV) and set a glass of water next to it when it was mounted on my tripod with the Majestic gear head. The water barely rippled when I fired the shutter.

I am afraid to try that with my Nikon F for fear of knocking the glass right off the tripod! 😀

Those old mechanical cameras were very well designed and built.

As much as I love the mass produced Spotmatic, a true icon of industrial design, I feel the last mechanical jewel in the Pentax line is the SV.
It's more elegant, smoother and has a much better viewfinder.
Some call it the Pentax Leica for a reason, they never made cameras like that again.

 

[alphonse2501]

Pentax (ZX-30) is my film camera that lead me into photography world. Also K1000 was my professor's camera for make his research photos and then he gave it to his son for photography class.

 

[Doug]

....
EDIT - You are right about the KM and KX. However, as overpriced as the K1000 sometimes seems to be I doubt you can pick up a decent KX for less than a K1000. Maybe a KM but even those are getting pricier.

I recall a few years ago being surprised to find that the K1000 often sold for more than the KM and KX. I figured that was due to it being better known, and that few people were aware of the better-featured but lesser-known models. If that's still the case, there's an opportunity to score a good deal! 🙂

Hi,

FWIW, my response to this thread was to order a Wein cell for the Spotmatic and put a cassette in it. ...

Regards, David

Hi David -- The Spotmatic meter has a "bridge circuit" that allows it to function accurately with voltage variations... The 1.55v S625PX silver cell battery is an excellent replacement for the original 1.35v mercury battery.

 

[kuzano]

The K1000... whooah!

The K1000... whooah!

The K1000 could do no wrong. It was too simple and built to last. The earlier Spotmatics I favored, was a bit smoother, but the K1000 was built to become a trainer extraordinaire.

But.... thousand of photography student busted their photographic cherry's on the K1000.

The Super Takumar really did the trick on the photos posted here. Amazing lenses.

 

[David Hughes]

Just go buy an SV David. Then you get the same wonderful smooth operation without bothering with the battery. Course the Spottie will also work.

I also find that the early Pentax film advance mechanisms were very, very smooth to operate. Likewise the early Minolta SR and SRT cameras. Their shutter actions were also incredibly smooth. A bit loud sometimes but if the mirror bumpers are in good condition even that is not bad.

I recently replaced the seals and mirror bumpers on my Honeywell Pentax H1a (similar to the SV) and set a glass of water next to it when it was mounted on my tripod with the Majestic gear head. The water barely rippled when I fired the shutter.

I am afraid to try that with my Nikon F for fear of knocking the glass right off the tripod! 😀

Those old mechanical cameras were very well designed and built.

Hi,

Much as I'd like to I dare not buy another. In fact, I'm currently planning what to get rid of next. I made a dreadful mistake and counted and then catalogued them a year or five ago. Trying to decide between the P&S's I'd got a film out of the fridge and then thought it would be more fun to try the Spotmatic and put the film in it.

But the thought of a full set of lenses for it frightens me, ditto lens hoods; I like the cameras I keep to be an outfit as bought at the time. That's a reason not to look at the M-A because a set of lenses for it would cause friction here and I reckon the M2's outfit is enough to cope with and covers most of my shooting.

OTOH, I did look at the SV and sighed. But I don't want to repeat the Pentax M's or Olympus OM's or Minolta X's worries with some older Pentaxes. I've reasoned that one SLR outfit in the collection is enough but can't decide which.

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

As much as I love the mass produced Spotmatic, a true icon of industrial design, I feel the last mechanical jewel in the Pentax line is the SV.
It's more elegant, smoother and has a much better viewfinder.
Some call it the Pentax Leica for a reason, they never made cameras like that again.

Hi,

Yes, that VF is a bit of a nuisance at times. I find the micro-prism seems to have moods. Sometimes it works brilliantly and sometimes blacks out. Even doing all the focussing at wide open doesn't seem to solve the problem.

The Minoltas and Leicas seem to have the best VF's of the lot, ancient and modern.

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

I recall a few years ago being surprised to find that the K1000 often sold for more than the KM and KX. I figured that was due to it being better known, and that few people were aware of the better-featured but lesser-known models. If that's still the case, there's an opportunity to score a good deal! 🙂


Hi David -- The Spotmatic meter has a "bridge circuit" that allows it to function accurately with voltage variations... The 1.55v S625PX silver cell battery is an excellent replacement for the original 1.35v mercury battery.

Hi,

I wish I'd known that a day or two ago. Batteries drive us all mad at times. I often wonder if the collection should be based on just one type of battery at times but that seems impossible unless we are thinking SR44's but that knocks out a few favourites.

Regards, David

 

[leicapixie]

My K-1000 was my pro camera for many years..
I am retired.
When I set sail for California in '96, it was the Pentax kit that was to make money.
The Leica kit was in case I ran short of funds..
We all prospered. The Leicas stayed.
When my Dad(passed) brought my Pentax 6x7 with order "Sell or Use".
I used it for a roll or two..
Then traded it for Leica M6TTL.

The Pentax system has never given problems.
I added for peanuts, ME-Super,MV,KM etc.
Spotmatics are smoother.
The SV for me were a disaster(H1a and Hv) being really less robust.:bang:
I am being kind..Late Keppler of "Modern Photography" alerted me to imminent arrival of Spotmatic.
I had a lot of lenses.
Lots don't mean stellar.🙂
The body and especially the lens, 55mm Super Takumar f1.4 was all I had hoped.
My Spotmatic in first batch in South Africa.
That camera was borrowed to other pros and even worked(without me) at a Olympic type games when their pro camera stopped..
It traveled with family, Dad, sister, brother in law and friends all over he world.
The 50mm lens is still with my daughter, on a replaced(30 years ago) body.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Some weeks ago picked up a fully working black K2 from a local market - and I must admit, it feels better in the hands than my smaller M's. Never had a K1000 though - isn't the K1000 what the ME is of the M's: fully AE without a manual mode? btw I bought the K2 for about $40.

 

[Swift1]

Some weeks ago picked up a fully working black K2 from a local market - and I must admit, it feels better in the hands than my smaller M's. Never had a K1000 though - isn't the K1000 what the ME is of the M's: fully AE without a manual mode? btw I bought the K2 for about $40.

The K2 was/is my favorite of all the Pentax K mount manual focus bodies that I've used. Pair it with a K series 50/1.4 and you have a superb combo.